Measuring children and monitoring obesity: surveys of English Primary Care Trusts 2004-06.

BACKGROUND

Child obesity has unclear determinants and consequences. A precautionary approach requires best-guess interventions and large-scale surveillance. This study was to determine the current measurement activities and the information systems required for child obesity surveillance.

DESIGN

Questionnaire-based surveys.

SETTING

Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in United Kingdom.

PARTICIPANTS

Two hundred and forty-seven (82%) PCTs in 2004 and 240 (79%) in 2006.

MAIN MEASURES

Children's ages at which height and weight are routinely measured, the type of personnel taking the measurements, arrangements for recording data, information systems and uses of the data.

RESULTS

PCTs measure height/length and weight most commonly at 6 weeks (74%) and 5 years (74%)-also at 6-12 months (58%), 1.5-2.5 years (50%), 2.5-4 years (40%), 11 years (18%) and 7 years (11%). Seventy-seven per cent of PCTs transferred the measurements to a database-26 different information systems were named. Six per cent of PCTs in 2004, rising to 34% in 2006, used the data to produce public health reports.

CONCLUSIONS

Body mass index (BMI) surveillance requires new arrangements in 25% of PCTs at school entry and 80% at transfer to senior school. Important aspects of child obesity surveillance not yet addressed are pre-school measurement, longitudinal assessment and the public health requirements of (child) electronic health records.